IL-23s: Psoriasis therapy overview

People with moderate-to-severe psoriasis can benefit from tildrakizumab (Ilumya), a biologic treatment that belongs to a class of drugs called interleukin-23 (IL-23) inhibitors. Biologics are protein-based medications that target specific parts of the immune system. IL-23 inhibitor specifically targets a type of cytokine called IL-23 and blocks cellular activity, which results in reduced inflammation that causes psoriasis.

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Selecting from IL-23s

Tildrakizumab (Ilumya) is a brand-name biologic medication that’s used to treat moderate to severe plaque psoriasis. This drug is an interleukin (IL-23) inhibitor that’s very effective and works long-term to control the symptoms of psoriasis. Tildrakizumab can help a wide range of psoriasis patients (even those with inflammatory bowel disease, IBD), including those with other health complications. A dermatologist can prescribe the medication, which is injected under your skin (subcutaneous injection) once every 12 weeks.

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Tildrakizumab candidates

Tildrakizumab (Ilumya), an Interleukin-23 (IL-23) inhibitor, can provide long-term improvement, even in higher-risk psoriasis patients. Tildrakizumab is a type of drug called a monoclonal antibody. It is a protein that specifically treats certain parts of your immune system. Unlike many other psoriasis treatments, tildrakizumab can be used in higher-risk populations, such as in the elderly or those with psoriasis in addition to other health conditions like inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) or psoriatic arthritis.

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Tildrakizumab effectiveness related to trial results

After 12 weeks of treatment with tildrakizumab (Ilumya), over 50 percent of patients can be cleared of their psoriasis. This biologic drug was approved in Canada in October 2021. In clinical dermatology experience, after one month of therapy with this interleukin-23 (IL-23) medication, a high majority of psoriasis patients experienced improvement in their symptoms. In research and real-life settings, tildrakizumab has been shown to be safe and offer long-term effectiveness.

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Tildrakizumab effectiveness

After 12 weeks of treatment with the interleukin-23 (IL-23) inhibitor, tildrakizumab (Ilumya), the majority of psoriasis patients can be clear or almost clear of their skin symptoms. People with psoriasis are frequently frustrated over treatments that are ineffective for them, such as tumor necrosis factor biologics, phototherapy, or systemic drugs (such as methotrexate). IL-23 inhibitors, like tildrakizumab, can be an important and effective therapeutic option when patients do not respond to other treatments.

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Tildrakizumab long-term effectiveness

Research has shown high levels of effectiveness are maintained for 5 years and beyond with tildrakizumab (Ilumya), an interleukin-23 (IL-23) inhibitor. At 3- and 6-month follow-up appointments, patients generally report no major side effects and are very satisfied with this treatment. Research experience further shows that tildrakizumab has a favourable long-term safety record, including a low incidence of side effects. Clinical trials with tildrakizumab began in 2013, meaning there are patients who are still receiving ongoing treatment and maintaining their results. Proactive patient support programs are available to facilitate and optimize treatment success.

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Managing patients on Tildrakizumab

Tildrakizumab (Ilumya), an interleukin-23 (IL-23) inhibitor offers a convenient dosing schedule. Treatment is administered by subcutaneous injection at start of treatment, after 4 weeks, followed by every 12 weeks thereafter. This dosing regimen is generally less frequent compared to other biologic medications, with only 4 injections needed each year for maintenance. A less frequent dosing regimen can offer more convenience and quality of life for patients, which in-turn can improve their satisfaction and adherence to treatment.

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General thoughts on Tildrakizumab

With the availability of tildrakizumab (Ilumya), an interleukin-23 (IL-23) inhibitor, dermatologists are very optimistic about the continued success of this biologic drug used to treat psoriasis patients. More than 50 percent of patients remain clear after 5 years of treatment. Dermatologists report that tildrakizumab has not only given health benefits to those suffering from psoriasis, but also improved their quality of life.

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Tildrakizumab: the Patient Journey

Those impacted know too well the challenges of living with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis. With recent treatment innovations, new biologic drugs like tildrakizumab (Ilumya), an interleukin-23 (IL-23) inhibitor, your symptoms can be successfully controlled and you can regain your quality of life. To start, it is important that you seek medical advice from your dermatologist. Achieving long-term clear skin is possible with the right treatment!

This video contents:

• IL-23 video series INTRO
• How psoriasis affects your life?
• How psoriasis makes you feel?
• Why did you decide to seek help?
• What does your treatment involve?
• Describe your skin before and after treatment
• How has your life changed since ILUMYA treatment?
• Your impression of the outcome of ILUMYA treatment?

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IL-23s: Psoriasis therapy overview

says that patients should first consider what changes that they are undergoing, so that they can understand what the surgeon is proposing to address these problems better.

Skin Therapy Letter and Skin Experts Talk interviewed one of Canada’s leading Mohs surgeons, Dr. Bryce Cowan from the Skin Care Centre in Vancouver, British Columbia.
Dr. Cowan is the first plastic surgeon to be certified to perform Mohs Surgery from the American College of Mohs Micrographic Surgery, and continues to help educate other surgeons. In this video series, Dr. Cowan explains the procedure, expectation, and the facts and myths surrounding this advanced treatment procedure for removing skin cancer.

We ask Dr. Cowan about the procedure, what patients can expect, and why it has such a high cure rate while being able to save the most amount of healthy tissue. By combining real time histological analysis with excision, it adds precision to the procedure. In addition, the patient also benefits from the fact that they need to undergo the procedure once only, as there is no need to check the biopsy at a later date since this is done on site on the day as part of the procedure. Dr. Cowan answers questions about various different skin cancers, and when Mohs is not indicated, recovery time, patient expectations as well as the reconstruction surgery process.

Most valuable for patients who are expecting this procedure, Dr. Cowan explains how patients can better educate themselves about the procedure, and how they can prepare for their appointment and what they can expect before, on the day of the procedure, and after the procedure.

In the first video (scroll up to watch) we start with the introduction to Mohs Surgery.

What is Mohs Surgery, also called Mohs Micrographic Surgery?

Mohs surgery is an advanced technique for removing skin cancers that combines histological analysis under a microscope at real-time with surgical excision. With this technique, the surgeon is able to remove the cancer successfully while preserving the greatest amount of tissue. This method of surgical excision offers the highest cure rate for Basal Cell Carcinomas and Squamous Cell Carcinomas, which are the two most common skin cancers.

In contrast to a traditional surgery for skin cancer, which involves cutting out a large margin around the visible skin cancer, with mohs surgery a small level is taken, and then analyzed under a microscope. The excised skin is marked so that the surgeon knows exactly what location and the placement of the skin if there is still cancer visible on the margins. The surgeon can then remove skin only where the cancer still remains. In this way, the extra visibility provided by the histological analysis allows the surgeon to act with precision and save tissue while ensuring the cancer is removed in its entirety.

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Mohs Surgery: The Gold Standard Treatment for BCC and SCC